Durham, N.C. - Since the late 1960s, tremendous strides have been made in the field of stem cell and bone marrow transplantation. Today, these procedures routinely help treat many people suffering from life-threatening diseases such as leukemia. November is National Marrow Awareness Month, and Dr. Keith Sullivan, from the Division of Medical Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation at Duke University Medical Center, says it's a good time to look into becoming a donor.

"The need for individuals to be blood donors is real, ongoing and constant. If an individual also wanted to be considered to be a donor of either peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow cells, contact the American Red Cross."

Sullivan says there are now 15 million names worldwide on the marrow donor registry, but there will always be a pressing need for donors.

"That is especially urgent for members of minorities - African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans. You just need a larger proportion of minority donors to have another donor for another minority individual."

To learn more about bone marrow diseases and how to donate bone marrow, visit the National Marrow Donor Program.

I'm Cabell Smith for MedMinute.